The verdict in the case of the terrorist attack in Dasu underlines Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the fight against terrorism: FO
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO), stated on Monday that the “proactive investigation, prosecution, and verdict” in the case of the terrorist attack on Chinese engineers working on the Dasu hydropower project last year “have once again demonstrated Pakistan’s abiding commitment to counterterrorism.”
In answer to a question on the verdict, Baloch stated that “We have noted the verdict passed by the relevant Court and details released by the local police,” He went on to say that specific questions regarding the matter “may be directed to the relevant authorities.”
She noted that “we again extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and remain committed to the safety and security of Chinese workers, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.” “We remain committed to the safety and security of Chinese workers, projects, and institutions in Pakistan,” she said.
The statement that the “Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership will never be undermined by hostile forces.” was repeated by the spokesperson.
On Friday, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court handed down death sentences to two militants for their roles in a terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of nine Chinese nationals working on the Dasu hydropower project.
At least 13 persons were killed when a bomb was detonated on purpose in the vicinity of a hydropower plant site in the remote upper Kohistan region in the month of July 2021. Nine of the victims were Chinese nationals.
In addition to the tragic loss of life, there were a total of 26 Chinese nationals were injured as a result of the incident. Of these, 12 Chinese workers received critical injuries, while the remaining 14 Chinese workers were hurt less severely.
As a direct result of this, the rate at which the project was being implemented slowed significantly.
In the wake of the accident, the Chinese contractor withdrew their workforce from the location and made a number of demands as preconditions for resuming work. One of these demands was the payment of $37 million as compensation for the Chinese workers who had been killed or injured in the accident.
This project is Pakistan’s flagship project, and once it’s finished, it will increase the country’s generation capacity by 4,320 megawatts (MW).
